Latch mechanism actuator



Sept. 28, 1965 c. BELSKY LATCH MECHANISM ACTUATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledAug. 8, 1962 FIG. 3b

CHARLES BELSKY INVENTOR.

c 3 m F Sept. 28, 1965 c. BELSKY LATCH MECHANISM ACTUATOR Filed Aug. 8,1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,208,784 LATCH MECHANISMACTUATOR Charles Belsky, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Ford Motor Company,Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 8, 1962, Ser. No.215,594 13 Claims. (Cl. 292-336.?!)

This invention relates to an actuator for latch mechanisms and moreparticularly to an inside door handle assembly for a latch mechanism foran automotive vehicle door.

The present trend in automotive interior styling is to provide an insidedoor handle that forms an integral part of the arm rest assembly tocreate a more pleasing interior door panel design. This not onlyimproves the appearance of the interior door panels but also is moreconvenient to the driver or passenger of the automobile when seekingegress from the vehicle as his arm is supported by the arm rest Whilehis fingers actuate the handle assembly.

In the present conventional integral door handle and arm restassemblies, the door latch mechanism is actuated by pressure exerted onthe handle in either a downward or upward direction. This has distinctdisadvantages from the safety aspect. If the handle is designed toactuate a door latch mechanism when pushed in a downward direction, itis possible to open the door unintentionally when the arm of theoccupant of the vehicle rests on the arm rest. If the handle assembly isdesigned to be swung upwardly to actuate the door latch mechanism, ithas been found that the sleeve of the occupant may catch on theprotruding handle causing the door to be opened accidentally.

To prevent the possible occurrence of an accidental opening of theautomotive vehicle door, the inside door handle assembly embodying thisinvention requires a deliberate compound directional movement of thehandle before the door latch mechanism can be unlatched.

The conventional automotive vehicle door latch mechanism has anactuating member which is usually mounted between the panels of the doorwith a portion of the member extending through the inner panel. In thisinvention a lever means is swingably coupled to the inwardly extendingportion of the actuating member for moving the latter in a latchmechanism operating direction. An actuating handle is pivotally coupledto the lever means and is yieldably held in a nonoperating position.Before it can be operated to nnlatch the latch mechanism, the actuatinghandle must be moved from its nonoperating position to an operatingposition. Until it is in its operating position, the handle cannot beoperated to nnlatch the latch mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the actuating handleassembly is housed within a recess in a stepped portion at the forwardend of the arm rest when in an inoperative position. When the occupantof the vehicle desires to open the door, it is necessary thathe, first,swing the handle of the handle assembly in a forward and downwarddirection and, secondly, move it rearwardly. Only after the second stepis completed will the door open. Upon release of the handle, it isrestored by a spring to its inoperative position within the recessedstepped portion of the arm rest.

An object of this invention is to provide an inside door handle whichwill not permit an occupant of the vehicle to actuate a door latchmechanism accidentally.

Another object is to provide an inside door actuating handle whichrequires a deliberate sequence of movements to actuate a door latchmechanism.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparentas this description proceeds, parice ticularly when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an arm rest incorporating a doorhandle assembly of the first embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective exploded view of the door handle assembly ofthe first embodiment;

FIGURES 3a, 3b and 3c are schematic side views of the arm rest andinside door handle assembly of the first embodiment depicting thesequence of movements required to cause unlatching actuation of a latchmechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an arm rest incorporating a doorhandle assembly of a second embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view, partially cut away, showing the doorhandle assembly of the second embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a portion ofthe door handle assembly shown in FIG- URE 5 but looking from theopposite direction;

FIGURES 7a, 7b and 7c are schematic side views of the arm rest and thedoor handle assembly of the second embodiment depicting the sequence ofmovements required to cause unlatching actuation of a latch mecha-111SII1.

As seen in FIGURE 1, an arm rest 11 is attached to the inner panel 12 ofa door of a vehicle body. A door handle assembly, generally designatedas 13, is received in a stepped portion 14 at the forward end of the armrest 11, which is partially defined by a flange portion 15 facinginwardly of the vehicle body.

In FIGURE 2 can be seen a latch mechanism actuator shaft 16 having aportion of the latter extending through an aperture 17 in the innerpanel 12. The shaft 16 upon being rotated in a clockwise directioncauses nnlatching actuation of a conventional automotive door latchmechanism (not shown). This allows the occupant of the vehicle to openthe door.

The actuating door handle assembly 13 comprises a lever means 18 havinga cylindrical base portion 19. One end of the base portion 19 isjournaled in an opening 21 provided in one end of a retainer 22. Theretainer 22 is secured to the inside surface of the arm rest 11 by twoscrews 23. A washer 24 is positioned intermediate the retainer 22 andthe actuating door handle assembly 13 to provide a bearing surfacetherebetween. Two arms 25 extend upwardly from each end of the baseportion 19. An opening 26 with peripheral serrations is provided at oneend of the base portion 19 to receive the inwardly extending portion ofthe actuator shaft 16 to couple the lever means 18 to the shaft 16. Theother end of the cylindrical base portion 19 has an opening 27 whichreceives a pivot pin 28 that extends through an aperture in the flangeportion 15 of the arm rest 11.

An actuating handle 29, which is in the shape of a U lying on its side,has a bifurcated portion 31. The ends of this bifurcated portion 31 arepivotally coupled to the upwardly extending arms 25 of the lever means18 by a pivot shaft 32. A stop member 33 is integrally formed with thebifurcated portion 31 of the handle 29 to limit the rotational movementof the latter in the counterclockwise direction.

-A coil spring 34 encompasses the pivot shaft 32 intermediate thebifurcations of the bifurcated portion 31. One end of the coil spring 34is in contact with a portion of the hand-1e 29 while the other end ofthe spring 34 abuts a shoulder portion 35 integrally formed with thecylindrical base portion 19 of the lever means 1 8. The spring 34 willnormally bias the handle 29 so that it is W olly recessed within thestepped portion 14 of the arm rest 11 in its normal inoperativeposition. The handle 29 has an upwardly facing surface 36 which isdecorated with transverse ribs 37 to facilitate the gripping of thehandle .29 by the occupant sitting in the vehicle. The exposed top andside surfaces of the arm rest 11 may be padded with a foam material 38and covered with a vinyl sheathing 39 which blends with the colored trimscheme of the inner door panel 12.

The steps of actuating the handle assembly 13 of this invention areshown in FIGURES 3a through 30. The occupant of the vehicle sittingadjacent the door may rest his arm on the arm rest 11 while his handgrips the upwardly facing surface 36 of the handle 29 as seen in FIGURE3a. To open the door, the handle 29 is swung about its pivot shaft 32 ina forward and downward direction until the stop member 3 3 abuts theshoulder portion 35 of the lever means 18 as seen in FIGURE 3b. It is tobe noted that pivotal rearward movement of the handle 29 from its normalinoperative position is inhibited by the forward portion of the arm rest11. After the handle 29 is swung in a forward direction, furthermovement can be effected in a rearward direction only, as seen in FIGURE3c. This causes the lever means 18 to swing in a clockwise directionwhich, in turn, will result in the clockwise rotation of the actuatorshaft 16 to place its associated door latch mechanism in an unlatchedcondition.

Release of the handle 29 will permit the spring loaded latch mechanism(not shown) to rotate the ac-taut-or shaft 16 in a counterclockwisedirection to its normal position. This will cause the lever means 1 8also to swing in a counterclockwise direction. The coil spring 34 willrestore the actuating handle 29 to its recessed position within thestepped portion 14 of the arm rest 11.

In FIGURES 4 through 7 is seen a second embodiment of a door handleassembly of this invention, generally designated as 41, in which thelatch mechanism (not shown) is actuated by the longitudinal movement ofa conventional draft link 42 as knOWn in the art.

As seen in FIGURE 4, the door handle assembly 41 comprises a generallyT-shaped handle 43 having a cross arm 44 that is contiguous to an armrest 45. This arm rest 45 is affixed to an inner panel 46 of a motorvehicle door. The lower end of the T-shaped handle 43 is pivotallycoupled to a journal member 47 extending through a slot 48 in the innerdoor panel 46. One end portion of the journal member 47 extends into thespace intermediate the inner panel 46 and an outer panel 49' of the doorwhere it is connected to a bell crank member 51 as seen in FIGURE 5. Thecenter of the bell crank member 51 is pivotally connected to the innerdoor panel 46 at 52. The other end portion of the bell crank member 51is connected to the draft link 42 to transmit the swinging movement ofthe bell crank member 51 to a door latch mechanism (not shown). A spring53 is coiled on the journal member 47 with one end of the spring 53inserted in a hole 54 provided in the journal member 47 as seen inFIGURE 5. The other end of the spring 53 is retained in a groove 55 cutinto the handle 43 as seen in FIGURE 6. The spring 53 serves to restorethe T-shaped handle 43 to its normal upright position as seen in FIGURES4 and and also to retain the handle 43 on the journal member 47. Arubber stop '56, which is attached to the forward portion of the armrest 45, engages the cross arm 44 of the T shaped handle 43 when thelatter is in its normal latch mechanism inoperative position.

As can be seen in FIGURES 7a through 70, the swinging movement of theT-shaped handle 43 in a forward direction about the axis of the journalmember 47 does not actuate the bell crank member 51 and its associateddraft link 42, thereby maintaining the latch mechanism in a latchedcondition. Movement of the handle 43 in a rearward direction from itsnormal upright position is prevented by rubber stop 56. After the handle43 is 4 swung to a forward position as seen in FIGURE 717, it can bemanually moved rearwardly to cause the journal member 47 to pivot thebell crank member 51 about its pivot 52 as seen in FIGURE 70. Thisresults in the longitudinal movement of the draft link 42 to place thelatch mechanism in an unlatched condition.

It can be seen that the door handle assembly of this invention requiresthe deliberate manual movement of the handle from an inoperative ornormal rest position to an operative position before it may be moved ina latch mechanism operating direction to place the latch mechanism of avehicle door in an unlatched condition. Accidental arm or elbow movementwhich may depress or lift the handle will not cause the latch mechanismto be actuated. A definite sequential movement in a forward directionand rearward direction is required. As the movement in the sec-0nddirection is converse to the direction of the first movement, accidentalactuation of the handle is practically eliminated. In both embodimentsof this invention, the door handle assembly is contiguous to the forwardportion of the arm rest to effect a pleasing appearance of the innerdoor panel of an automobile. Also, the combining of the handle and armrest in one assembly permits the convenient actuation of the handle bythe hand movement of the occupant of the vehicle while his arm rests onthe arm rest.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to theexact construction shown and described in the two embodiments of thisinvention but that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a motor vehicle body, a door, a latch mechanism operating meansmounted intermediate an inner panel and an outer panel of said door,said latch mechanism operating means comprising a rotatable shaft havinga portion extending inwardly through an aperture in said inner panel, alever coupled to said inward-1y extending shaft portion and alsopivotally connected to an arm rest, said arm rest being aflixed to saidinner door panel, said arm rest having a stepped portion, a handlehaving one end portion pivotally connected to said lever for rotatingshaft in a latch mechanism unlatching direction, said handle beingrecessed within said stepped portion of said arm rest when said shaft isin its normal inoperative position, said handle being swingable in aforward and downward direction and then in the rearward directionrelative to said lever, said handle upon being swung in the rearwarddirection causing swinging movement of said lever to rotate said shaftin a latch mechanism unlatching direction, and spring meansinter-mediate said handle and said lever for returning said handle toits recessed position within the stepped portion of said arm rest.

2. In a motor vehicle body, a door, a movable latch mechanism actuatingmeans mounted intermediate an inner and an outer panel of said door,said latch mechanism actuating means being movable from an inoperativeposition in a latch mechanism operating direction, an actuating handlepivotally coupled to said latch mechanism actuating means, saidactuating handle being swingable from a normal position in a forwarddirection relative to said actuating means and then movable in arearward direction, said actuating handle upon being moved in therearward direction causing movement of said latch mechanism actuatingmeans in a latch mechanism operating direction, and biasing means toreturn said actuating handle to its normal position.

3. In a motor vehicle body, a door, a latch mechanism actuating meansmounted intermediate an inner panel and an outer panel of said door,said latch mechanism actu ating means comprising a link movable in agenerally longitudinal direction from an inoperative position in a latchmechanism operating direction, and a journal memher operativelyconnected to said link and extending through a slot in said inner panel,an actuating handle pivotally coupled to said journal member, saidactuating handle being swingable from its normal position in a forwarddirection relative to said journal member and then movable in a rearwarddirection, said actuat ng handle upon being moved in a rearwarddirection causing movement of said link through said journal member in alatch mechanism operating direction, and biasing means to return saidactuator handle to its normal position.

4. In a motor vehicle body, a door, a latch mechanism actuating meansmounted intermediate an inner panel and an outer panel of said door, anarm rest aflixed to said inner panel, said latch mechanism actuatingmeans comprising a link movable in a generally longitudinal directionfrom an inoperative position in a latch mechanism operating direction,and a journal member operatively con nected to said link, a portion ofsaid journal member extending inwardly of said vehicle body through agenerally longitudinally extending slot in said inner panel, anactuating handle pivotally coupled to the inwardly extending portion ofsaid journal member, said actuating handle being swingable from anupright position in a forward direction relative to said journal memberand then movable in a rearward direction, said actuating handle uponbeing moved in a rearward direction causing movement of said linkthrough said journal member in a latch mechanism operating direction,and biasing means to restore said actuating handle to an uprightposition, said actuating handle in said upright position beingcontiguous to the forward portion of said arm rest.

5. A door latch operating mechanism mounted on a panel of a doorcomprising a latch operating member movable from an inoperative positionto an operative position, swingable lever means having one end portioncoupled to said latch operating member for swinging movement about afixed first pivot axis, and an actuating handle connected to the otherend portion of said lever means for swinging movement about a secondpivot axis parallel to said fixed first pivot axis, said actuatinghandle sequentially being swingable in a first direction about saidsecond pivot axis and movable in a second direction, said actuatinghandle upon being moved in said second direction being operative toswing said lever means about said fixed first pivot axis thereby causingsaid latch operating member to move to an operative position.

6. A door latch operating mechanism mounted on a panel of a doorcomprising a latch operating member movable from an inoperative positionto an operative position, swingable lever means having one end portioncoupled to said latch operating member for swinging movement about afixed first pivot axis, and an actuating handle connected to the otherend portion of said lever means for swinging movement about a secondpivot axis parallel to said fixed first pivot axis, said second pivotaxis being displaceable with respect to but maintained in a parallelrelationship with said fixed first pivot axis, said actuating handlesequentially being swingable about said second pivot axis in onedirection and movable in an opposite direction to displace said secondpivot axis, said actuating handle upon being moved in an oppositedirection causing swinging movement of said lever means about said fixedfirst pivot axis to move said latch operating member from an inoperativeposition to an operative position.

7. A door latch operating mechanism mounted on a panel of a doorcomprising a latch operating member movable from an inoperative positionto an operative position, swingable lever means having one end portioncoupled to said latch operating member for swinging movement about afixed first pivot axis, an actuating handle connected to the other endportion of said lever means for swinging movement about a second pivotaxis spaced from an extending parallel to said fixed first pivot axis,said actuating handle sequentially being swingable in one directionabout said second pivot axis and then movable in a direction opposite tosaid one direction, said actuating handle upon being moved in saidopposite direction causing swinging movement of said lever means to movesaid latch operating member in an operative position, and meansinhibiting movement of said actuating handle in said opposite directionuntil the latter is swung in said one direction about said second pivotaxis.

8'. A latch mechanism operating means mounted on a panel of a doorcomprising a rotatable shaft, swingable lever means having one endportion coupled to said shaft for rotating the latter in a latchmechanism operating direction, and an actuating handle pivotally coupledto the other end portion of said lever means for swinging movement abouta pivot axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said shaft, saidactuating handle sequentially being swingable in one direction and thenmovable in a second direction, said actuating handle upon being moved insaid second direction being operative to swing said lever means therebycausing said shaft to be rotated in a latch mechanism operatingdirection.

9. A latch mechanism operating means for a closure structure comprisinga rotatably mounted shaft, a swingable lever having one end portioncoupled to said shaft for rotating the latter in a latch mechanismoperating direction, and a movable operating means pivotally connectedto the other end portion of said lever for swinging movement in a firstdirection about a pivot axis parallel to the axis of rotation of saidshaft, said operating means being inhibited from movement in a leverswinging direction to cause rotation of said shaft until said operatingmeans is swung in said first direction about said pivot axis.

10. A latch mechanism operating means mounted on a panel of a closurestructure comprising a rotatable shaft, a swingable lever coupled tosaid shaft for rotating the latter about a fixed first pivot axis, andan actuating handle pivotally coupled to said lever remote from saidfixed first pivot axis for swinging movement in a first direction abouta second pivot axis parallel to said first fixed pivot axis, saidactuating handle movable in a direction opposite of the first direction,said actuating handle upon being moved in the opposite directionswinging said lever about said fixed first pivot axis to rotate saidshaft, and means normally inhibiting movement of said actuating handlein said opposite direction until said actuating handle is swung aboutsaid second pivot axis in a first direction.

11. A door latch mechanism operator comprising a pivotally mountedshaft, a lever coupled to said shaft for swinging the latter in a latchmechanism operating direction about a fixed first pivot axis, and anactuating handle pivotally coupled to said lever for swinging movementabout a second pivot axis parallel to and remote from said fixed firstpivot axis, said actuating handle being swingable in one direction aboutsaid second pivot axis and then being movable in an opposite directionto cause swinging movement of said lever in a latch mechanism operatingdirection. 12. In a vehicle body having a closure structure includmg alatch mechanism operator comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, aswingable lever coupled to said shaft for rotating the latter about afixed first pivot axis in a latch mechanism operating direction, and anactuating handle pivotally coupled to said lever for rotation about asecond pivot axis extending parallel to said fixed pivot axis, saidactuating handle sequentially being swingable about said second pivotaxis in one direction and then movable m an opposite direction, saidactuating handle upombemg moved in said opposite direction causingswinging movement of said lever to rotate said shaft in a latchmechanism operating direction.

13. In a motor vehicle body, a door having a latch mechanism mountedtherein, a latch mechanism operating means mounted intermediate an innerpanel and an outer panel of said door, said latch mechanism operatingmeans including a shaft rotatable from a normal inoperative position ina latch mechanism operating direction, and a swingable lever having oneend portion coupled to said shaft, an arm rest aifixed to said innerpanel, a handle pivotally connected to the other end portion of saidlever, said handle being swingable from a normal inoperative position inone direction about a pivot axis parallel to the axis of rotation ofsaid shaft and movable in a direction opposite said one direction, saidhandle only upon being moved in said opposite direction causing swingingmovement of said lever to rot-ate said shaft in a latch mechanismoperating direction, and biasing means for restoring said handle to itsnormal inoperative position, said handle in its normal inoperativeposition being contiguous to the forward portion of said arm rest.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Graham et al74547 Levesque 74-547 Wheeler 74547 Peters et a1 74-547 Sanderlin et a1.

Van Voorhees 70149 ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner.

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Examiner.

8. A LATCH MECHANISM OPERATING MEANS MOUNTED ON A PANLE OF A DOORCOMPRISING A ROTATABLE SHAFT, SWINGABLE LEVER MEANS HAVING ONE ENDPORTION COUPLED TO SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATING THE LATTER IN A LATCHMECHANISM OPERATING DIRECTION, AND AN ACTUATING HANDLE PIVOTALLY COUPLEDTO THE OTHER END PORTION OF SAID LEVER MEANS FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUTA PIVOT AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT, SAIDACTUATING HANDLE SEQUENTIALLY BEING SWINGABLE IN ONE DIRECTION AND THENMOVABLE IN A SECOND DIRECTION, SAID ACTUATING HANDLE UPON BEING MOVED INSAID SECOND DIRECTION BEING OPERATIVE TO SWING SAID LEVER MEANS THEREBYCAUSING SAID SHAFT TO BE ROTATED IN A LATCH MECHANISM OPERATINGDIRECTION.